Rimbi village in Sikkim’s Gyalshing district may remain uninhabitable after an escalating landslide and flash flood destroyed two houses and extensively damaged several others, residents said. The slide, active since August 13, changed course and entered the village on Thursday night after two days of incessant rainfall. All residents have moved to a relief camp or relatives’ homes in Darap, while the government began assessing property and livestock losses.
Two days of rain triggered flash floods and mudslides that blocked the Mit Khola stream above Rimbi, forcing it to change course and flow through the village’s main residential area. Several private properties and public facilities were damaged. An affected resident said Rimbi could remain unsafe even after the rain stops and the dry season begins because of the destruction.
Singlitam, a village of roughly 10 to 12 households on a steep hill above Rimbi, is also gradually sinking. Landslides that began as small patches in the first week of August have expanded significantly. Parts of Singlitam could collapse, while debris from the unstable hillside could submerge or bury Rimbi if intense, prolonged rainfall continues.
The Power Department lost a departmental guest house, four staff quarters, furniture and important documents in the flood. Historical records dating back to 1993 were also destroyed. A department official said infrastructure built during the tenure of former Sikkim chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari was among the assets lost.
Minister-cum-area MLA Tshering T. Bhutia, Land Revenue and Disaster Management secretary-cum-relief commissioner Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, district collector Tenzing D. Denzongpa, other officials and panchayat representatives visited Rimbi on Friday to assess the situation. The government said relief teams would assess the full extent of damage once weather conditions allowed access.
Authorities assured affected families of immediate assistance, short-term relief and properly facilitated accommodation where required. Bhutia said the state government would provide all necessary support and that the chief minister had been informed. He urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary movement at night because of the continuing landslide risk. Officials also inspected the relief camp arrangements for displaced families.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/rimbi-may-remain-uninhabitable-given-the-scale-of-destruction
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date:
